CAW Local 27 Bargains First Hospital Agreement of 2009

April 8, 2009, 12:13 PM EST

St. Joseph's Hospital in London, Ontario has overwhelmingly ratified a new three-year collective agreement with wage increases of 2.75 per cent, 2.8 per cent and 3 per cent in each year of the deal.

CAW Local 27 President Tim Carrie reported that the bargaining committee worked incredibly hard to get to this deal. "Public sector employers have been using the economic crisis to justify coming after workers wages and benefits. We not only held on to what we had, but made substantial gains besides wages, including benefits, job security language and an RPN adjustment."

Carrie recognized the importance that this agreement has in the hospital sector. "Other unions have entered into early bargaining with the Ontario Hospital Association, and have not been able to reach a deal, and look to be headed to arbitration." He adds, "This is really a leading agreement, and while we know it won't be easy, this will set a precedent for our CAW hospital agreements going forward."

CAW hospital negotiations are currently underway in several major hospitals, including Grand River Hospital and St. Mary's Hospital in Kitchener, Windsor Regional Hospital and Hotel Dieu Grace Hospital in Windsor as well as in community hospitals in Simcoe, Ingersoll, Exeter, Tillsonburg, Fergus and Hanover. The CAW Northern Hospital master bargaining group involving 8 hospitals will also begin in April.